By Gazette Staff
June 8th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Toronto police arrested six people Sunday at the annual Walk With Israel event in North York.
The United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of Greater Toronto, which organizes the event to support Israel, said this year’s walk was attended by a record 60,000 people.
The increase in attendance was mainly driven by supporters from outside of the Jewish community, said Sara Lefton, UJA Federation’s chief development officer, who called the walk a “beautiful moment.”
“We’ve been the subject of so much hate in the last few years,” Lefton said. “It meant a tremendous amount to our community to have so many other Torontonians standing with us.”
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Gordon, you have already lost the narrative and weakened your argument when you try to lecture me on equating post October 7, 2023 actions taken by Israel with the Holocaust. Not to minimize losses suffered by Hamas supporting Palestinians, but nobody has confirmed that number which is always more than reality when reported by Palestinians. Next, nothing can equate to suffering during the Holocaust. Over 6,000,000 Jews perished vs maybe 60,000 Palestinians (if we are to believe their often inflated casualties). The Nazis lined Jews up and shot them into trenches then buried them. Inhumane experiments were conducted on them by horrible doctors. Millions perished in concentration camps only to be poisoned in the gas chambers, then incinerated in the ovens. These policies were sanctioned by German (and other) Nazis with the goal of full extermination of very Jewish man woman and child on earth. That is ethnic cleansing Gordon. To equate the plight of the Palestinians with Jews of the Second World War is ridiculous, Gordon. I would suggest you take a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC to educate yourself on what a real Holocaust looks like. As far as “my people’s history” is concerned, Jews learned a long time ago they are on their own to defend themselves. Have you ever heard of the phrase “Never Again”? Well it is meant. Israelis will not go down without a fight any longer, Gordon. Hamas worshipping Palestinians and Iran’s proxies, who think they can day after day, year after year, lob missiles into Israel without repercussions have miscalculated and will suffer the consequences – that is fair game. What do you think Israel should have done after October 7, 2023 Gordon?
What makes you an expert on geopolitics? I hear little, if anything, of Palestinians, or any Muslims, wanting peace with Israel abroad or here in Canada. All I see is hate, rising antisemitism and ignorance.
I do not need a reality check, Gordon. My support of Israel, a country my family has not, in memory, ever visited does not need a person like you to tell me how to judge them. I am certainly not in a position to tell them how to do what you would have me do so they can be exterminated, bit by bit, by Hamastinians and others.
Your simpleton view that all the Israelis have to do is extend a hand in peace has been tried before to no avail, Gordon. These terrorist groups should not be part of Palestinian’s future as you suggest. If you can’t see that, you are part of the problem.
Your tone deafness is astounding. The phrase never again did not refer to the Jews being attacked or the state of Israel being attacked. It referred to never would the Holocaust against any ethnicity. The world, particularly Europe and the USA, have protected the Jewish people since WWII. Regrettably, the Israeli State has become the persecutor.
I have visited the Holocaust museums in Toronto, Prague and Yad Vashem. I have also visited Auschwitz. So please don’t lecture me.
Retribution against Hamas after the October 7th atrocity was obviously the right thing to do. But 2 and 1/2 years on it is no longer defense.
The bombing and slaughter of innocent men, women and children in Gaza )who have been herded into confined areas from which there is no escape), the bombing of hospitals, the targeting of first responders in ambulances are all war crimes.
To obtain peace with the Palestinians Israel must openly and publicly commit to a two-state solution (Palestine and Israel) we’re both states commit to peace with their neighbour and their neighbor’s right to exist. The Palestinian authority has accepted this position. Israel says it will not consider the existence of a Palestinian state. (Ostrich).
Hamas and its supporters will continue to, as you say, lob missiles into Israel, as long as the Israeli government refuses to accept the two-state solution and to oppress those in Gaza by controlling what is allowed into the territory.
In Northern Ireland where Catholics and Protestants using religion as cloaks fought each other for 300 years, there came a time when it becomes obvious to both sides the cycle will never end and maintaining the cycle becomes self-defeating.
The actions of the Israeli government are not only war crimes visited upon the Palestinian people in Gaza, but they incite Palestinian supporters (not Hamas or Hezbollah) to hate Jews..
You obviously do need a reality check to the harm, the Israeli government is causing Jewish communities worldwide and you need to speak up against those actions
Israel has never extended a hand of peace towards the Palestinians. It has always and continues to hold the position that there will never be a Palestinian state. That is not the hand of peace. That is denial
Nobody, including myself, including Canadian and European governments, is saying that Hamas or Hezbollah or any other terrorist group should be a part of a peace process or any future Palestinian government. So where you get that from I don’t know.
As to the number of deaths that the Israeli government has committed in Gaza I found the following:
Independent demographic and epidemiological studies indicate that by early 2026, over 100,000 Palestinians had died from both violent and non-violent causes in Gaza. These studies find that official administrative counts serve as a baseline minimum, with actual violent fatalities estimated to be up to 40% higher.Multiple independent methodologies provide specific insights into the toll:The Gaza Mortality Survey (GMS): A household study published in The Lancet found that 75,200 people died violently between October 7, 2023, and January 5, 2025. The study also estimated an additional 16,300 non-violent deaths, including 8,540 excess deaths caused by the collapse of medical and living conditions.
Max Planck Institute Model: Researchers developed a statistical approach that put the direct conflict-related death toll at over 78,300 by the end of 2024, with subsequent analyses indicating the total likely exceeded 100,000 by late 2025.
Whether the actual number is 10,000 or 20,000 or 50,000 000 or 75,000 or 100,000 the number is totally unacceptable and have been already judged as war crimes.
Wow Gordon, where to begin? You equate, morally, the Palestinian horrific acts of October 7, 2023 with the self defence of the legitimate democratic State of Israel. You can only poke the bear so many times before you can expect a reaction. This applies anywhere in the world. Terrorist groups such as Hezbollah (Lebanon), Islamic Jihad, and several other proxies for Iran are not interested in peace; they are fanatical cults of death and sworn to destroy Israel – this cannot be denied. I was born here in Canada, grew up in a Gentile neighborhood and had mostly Gentile friends. I have never seen such vile antisemitism in my life as I have since October 7, 2023. New intolerant immigrants, locally emboldened antisemites and Liberal Left-Wing governments have let things get out of control here in Canada. I have never been to Israel, but support Israel 100% in taking whatever means to protect themselves from Palestinians who don’t want, and never have wanted, peace with Israelis. Yes, it is sad for Palestinians that their leadership has never really wanted peace. Gordon, I really take offence to your warped antisemitic logic that you think Jews in Canada bring hate upon themselves for Israel protecting themselves and that somehow I am personally complicit in horrors endured by Palestinians. My heart was warmed seeing huge crowds on the weekend support Israel and Jews worldwide and that they reject your simplistic views that Jews bring misery upon themselves, Gordon. A Canadian is a Canadian; Canadian Jews only want what every other Canadian wants – to feel secure with other groups, safe, a sense of belonging and to live in a country that allows you to reach your full potential. I hope you learned something. Perhaps I will see you there next year Gordon?
Phil
First off, you are not differentiating between Hamas (which is a horrible disgusting terrorist organization which no matter what denies the right for Israel to exist) and the general Palestinian population which only wants to live in peace. The actions of Hamas on October 7th were not only totally unacceptable, they were actions of terrorists. Yes, Israel has the right to respond and defend itself. But its actions in Gaza have gone way beyond defending itself. The murder of 60,000+ Palestinian men, women and children, the vast majority of which cannot be described as terrorists, is equivalent to the Nazis exterminating Jews in the 1940s. This Is ethnic cleansing. The stealing of lands on the West Bank and the eviction of the rightful Palestinian owners to build Israeli settlements is contrary to international law and to various UN resolutions. And yet the State of Israel puts itself above the law.
As a Jew, with the history of the 1940s Holocaust in your people’s history, you more than any gentile should condemn the murderous ethnic cleansing actions of the Israeli government in Gaza and South Lebanon where 60,000+ Palestinian on-combatant civilians have been exterminated by the IDF on direction of the Israeli government.
Yes, Israel has a total right to defend itself but its actions after the October 7th 2023 Hamas terrorist attack have gone way beyond being defensive and have become offensive. Offensive in both the military and moral meaning of the word.
The State of Israel no longer holds the high moral ground as it did back in the ’60s and the ’70s when it was attacked by neighboring Arab countries. This is why you see huge numbers of people not only in Toronto but in many European cities demonstrating in support of the Palestinian people. They are not demonstrating against Jews or the state of Israel. They are demonstrating in support of the Palestinian people and against the actions of the Israeli government. You really need to understand that. But the Jewish communities around the world refusal to condemn the Israeli government makes them complicit in the actions of that government. Good afternoon because that’s when the party started after Mexico’s big win over South Africa. Adrian, all right thank you
Phil, you need to get a reality check. You and the Jewish people must stand up and condemn the Israeli government and begin to win back the moral high ground. At this moment in time the Israeli State (not the Israeli people) is viewed by an ever increasing number of people as being a state terrorist group..
Hopefully Netanyahu will be ousted as Israeli PM and replaced with a moderate government That will sit down and negotiate with moderate Palestinian leaders, who accept the right of Israel to exist. But Israel must accept a two-state solution. Two states living side by side in peace.
By the way, I agree and accept everything you say about Hamas and Hezbollah and other such terrorist groups. They must being be part of the Palestinian future. However, as you say, the more you poke the bear, a reaction will be forthcoming. I don’t always The Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, South Lebanon and the West Bank is poking the terrorist bear. In doing so, a new generation of terrorists is being born. What the Israel government is doing is totally counterproductive.
I also hope you have learned something.
Ms Hersh
Do you think the 60,000,000 marchers were only expressing support for the Jewish people? Or do you think that support extends to the Israeli government? I hope not.
It is high time Jewish communities and advocacy groups like the Federation and B’nai Brith became vocal in condemnation of the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, Southern Lebanon and the West Bank. In staying silent, the Jewish communities become complicit in those horrors and so attract hate on themselves.
All hate is wrong and should never be tolerated.
Jews have the influence & power to stop the Israeli government’s disgusting persecution of the Palestinian people. They need to use that influence and power. If they stand up and speak out I believe the Palestinian supporters will respond positively.
What isn’t shown in this picture is the number of police that were required to keep those walking safe.
“there was a heavy police presence in North York on Sunday as tens of thousands of people took part in Toronto’s annual Walk With Israel.
Organizers said the turnout at this year’s event was the largest in its history. They are estimating more than 60,000 people attended the march, which is now in its 57th year.
Sara Lefton, chief development officer at UJA Federation, said these unprecedented numbers are reflective of both solidarity with Israel and concern about rising antisemitism in Canada.
“For the Jewish community, we’ve seen more hate in recent years than ever before directed at our community,” she told The Canadian Press.
“AND IT’S NOT JUST A JEWISH ISSUE, THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL CANADIANS.”
Lefton said organizers see the Walk With Israel as a message that “hate is not acceptable in our country,” describing it as “a moment of unity and solidarity for the Jewish community and the people of Israel.”
BELIEVE it or not there was a time ( not so long ago) when this type of police presence was not needed.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR CANADA?